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| Angela Gheorghiu sings the title role in this sparkling rendition that features Jonas Kaufmann. Antonio Pappano conducts. Recorded in Rome. |
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| 1 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. E soffitto... e pareti... |
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| 2 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Sorride Vostro Onore? |
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| 3 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Dovunque al mondo |
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| 4 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Ed è bella la sposa? |
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| 5 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Ier l'altro il Consolato |
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| 6 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Ah! ah! Quanto cielo! Quanto mar!... Ancora un passo or via |
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| 7 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Gran ventura |
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| 8 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. L'Imperial Commissario |
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| 9 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Vieni, amor mio! |
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| 10 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Ieri son salita tutta sola |
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| 11 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Tutti zitti! |
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| 12 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Auguri molti |
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| 13 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Cio-Cio-San! Abbominazione! |
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| 14 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Bimba, non piangere |
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| 15 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Viene la sera |
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| 16 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Bimba dagli occhi pieni di malia |
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| 17 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Vogliatemi bene, un bene piccolino |
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| 18 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. (Orchestra) |
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| 19 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. E Izaghi ed Izanami |
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| 20 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Un bel dì vedremo |
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| 21 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. C'e. Entrate |
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| 22 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Non lo sapete insomma |
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| 23 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Ora a noi |
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| 24 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Due cose potrei far |
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| 25 Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Ah! m'ha scordata? |
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Album Review
The most notable thing about this recording of Madama Butterfly is the conducting of Antonio Pappano. His reading emphasizes the opera's dramatic intensity, and has a sinewy, sometimes brutal power that never lets the listener forget the cruelty and arrogance that are at its core. Pappano highlights the modernist elements in Puccini's score -- its harsh dissonances, sometime startling orchestration, and astonishing harmonically unresolved conclusion -- that tend to be glossed over in more conventionally romantic performances. His approach throws the irony of the love scene into harsh relief and makes Cio-Cio-San's naïve devotion all the more poignant. The rhythmic fluidity he brings to the score creates a terrific sense of spontaneity and vitality, and his attention to detail, such as having the strings subtly bend the tone in the pentatonic sections, creates a lovingly nuanced performance. Altogether, it's a revelatory version of the opera. Having a uniformly outstanding cast and two stars at the top of their form also hugely contributes to the recording's impact. The minor roles are all vividly etched and beautifully sung. Relative unknowns Enkelejda Shkosa and Fabio Capitanucci convey tremendous compassion as Suzuki and Sharpless and sing with assurance and understanding. Angela Gheorghiu and Jonas Kaufmann don't have the distinctiveness to compete with the legendary Butterflys and Pinkertons of previous generations, but for modern performers, they are exceptionally successful in filling out the roles. Kaufmann is known for the intensity with which he throws himself into his roles, and he's completely convincing as an arrogant, opportunistic imperialist who can also be a real charmer. His timbre is heroic, and he sings with a compelling Latinate fervor. Gheorghiu's tone is pure and focused, she sings with engaging warmth and soaring openness. She has plenty of unforced power when it's called for, and "Un bel dì vedremo" is searingly intense. She may not be completely persuasive in the nearly impossible task of conveying the adolescent innocence of a 15 year old, but that's easily forgivable because her Butterfly is so tenderly appealing and touchingly vulnerable. The sound of EMI's studio recording is immaculately clean, with excellent balance and a realistic ambience. ~ Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide
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• Biography
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Other albums by: Angela Gheorghiu |
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